Jerome Bob Traxler

Jerome Bob Traxler (July 21, 1931 – October 30, 2019), also known as J. Bob Traxler or Bob Traxler, was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Michigan who served ten terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 to 1993. Over the course of his decade-long congressional career, he represented Michigan in the U.S. House during a significant period in American history, participating in the legislative process and advocating for the interests of his constituents.

Traxler was born in Kawkawlin, Bay County, Michigan, and grew up in the Bay City area, where he attended the public schools, including T.L. Handy High School. He went on to Michigan State College (now Michigan State University), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953. While at Michigan State, he became a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, an affiliation that reflected his early engagement in campus and community life.

Immediately after completing his undergraduate studies, Traxler served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, fulfilling his military obligation during the early years of the Cold War. Following his service, he pursued legal training at the Detroit College of Law, receiving an LL.B. degree in 1959. He was admitted to the Michigan bar in 1960 and commenced the practice of law in Bay City, Michigan. That same year he entered public service at the local level, serving as assistant Bay County prosecutor from 1960 to 1962, a role that provided him with early experience in public law and criminal justice.

Traxler’s state-level political career began with his election to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1962. He served in the state legislature from 1962 to 1974, building a reputation as an effective legislator. During this period he rose to a leadership position as majority floor leader in the Michigan House from 1965 to 1966, a post that placed him at the center of legislative strategy and party organization in Lansing. His years in the state house established him as a prominent Democratic figure in mid-Michigan and prepared him for national office.

Following the resignation of Republican Representative James Harvey on January 31, 1974, Traxler sought election to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan’s 8th congressional district. He was elected as a Democrat in a special election held on April 16, 1974, to fill the vacancy in the 93rd Congress, and he took his seat on April 23, 1974. He was subsequently re-elected to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving continuously from April 23, 1974, until his retirement from Congress on January 3, 1993. Over these ten terms in office, Traxler contributed to the legislative process during a period marked by economic change, shifting industrial fortunes in the Midwest, and evolving federal policy. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents in Michigan, working within the Democratic Party framework on national and regional issues.

Traxler’s departure from Congress coincided with changes brought about by congressional redistricting following the 1990 census. The area he had represented as the 8th district was largely reconfigured into Michigan’s 5th congressional district. In the newly drawn district, Democrat James A. Barcia was elected to succeed him for the 103rd Congress, effectively continuing Democratic representation of much of the same mid-Michigan constituency that Traxler had served for nearly two decades.

After leaving Congress, Traxler remained active in public affairs and higher education governance in Michigan. He served on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2000, returning to his alma mater in a leadership capacity and helping to oversee the institution’s policies and administration. In addition, he was a member of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission from 1992 to 2005, contributing to the stewardship and preservation of one of Michigan’s most significant historic and recreational sites. These roles reflected his continued commitment to public service at the state level after his congressional career ended.

In his personal life, Traxler was a resident of Saginaw, Michigan, during and after his years in Congress. He had at least one daughter, Sarah, with Mary Richards. Later in life, he married Jean B. Hose on January 1, 2006. Jerome Bob Traxler died on October 30, 2019, closing a long career in law, state government, and national legislative service that spanned more than four decades.